Foodie News

Taste of Washington is one of our iconic food and wine events here in the Northwest. Back for its 18th year, this year’s event is bigger and better than ever so make sure to mark your calendars for Saturday, March 28th and Sunday, March 29th.

On Saturday I will be emceeing at the Alaska Airlines Chefs Stage from 2:15 PM to 5:00 PM. It’s a great line up of chefs who will be sharing how to make their signature dishes and demonstrating exciting techniques.

226 Wineries from across the state will be serving tastes of their offerings, as well as select cideries and breweries – along with tasty bites from 65 PNW restaurants

Tickets are available at TasteWashington.org. General admission gets you into the chef’s stage, main events and tastings. Over 5000 wine and food enthusiasts come every year, so why not be one of them? Hope to see you there! –Kathy

This clam-tastic weekend features all sorts of family fun events, like clam shovel decorating, mechanical shark rides, and chowder tasting where you can cast your vote for People’s Choice!
But make sure you don’t miss the chowder cook offs – both chefs and amateurs battle it out with their best chowders for big bragging rights. Who will be best on the beach this year?

Razor clams are a definite northwest delicacy. If you want to try your hand and “shovel,” be sure to check out the Washington department of Fish and Wildlife website for dig info. Don’t forget your clam license, fishing or waterproof gloves and boots. And remember: Never ever turn your back to the surf!

The Razor Clam Dance!

Once you’ve reached your razor clam limits, check out this video that my friend Scott Surdyke and I made on how to clean them properly. And for a super tasty way of cooking this bi-valve, try our recipe for our Clam-tastic Razor Clam Fritters with my Rock-the-World Tartar Sauce below.

So cross your fingers for sunny weather, pack warm and head on over to Ocean Shores for a clam-tastic time. -Kathy

Drain the clams and save any juice for use in recipe.
In a large bowl combine the Krusteaz, corn meal, baking powder, lemon pepper, zest, salt and pepper. Stir in the garlic, clam nectar/juice, beer and eggs to combine.
Then fold in the celery, corn, green onions, bell pepper and drained clams.

Heat 2-inches of Crisco in a large cast iron skilled till hot – about 375 degrees. Scoop out fritters a few at time – I use a 1/4 cup measure – they should be kind of spread out and not too thick. Fry on first side till golden and then flip over. Continue frying till golden and cooked through. Drain on paper towels. Cook fritters in batches being sure oil stays hot. Keep fritters warm in a 300 degree oven on a rack if needed – but they are best served right away – the fritter cook will just have to keep cooking! Serve with Rock the World Tartar Sauce and fresh lemons.

My dear friend and colleague is in town for his book tour, Just walking into our kitchen you can feel his passion… and very soon the wafting sent of baking soda bread was filling our senses

Trevis Gleason’s “Chef Interupted: Discovering Life’s Second Course in Ireland with Multiple Sclerosis” is a very well written, funny, honest and inspirational book. I urge you to pick up a copy.

Trevis was a chef and culinary heavy-hitter when he was diagnosed with MS at the young age of 35. This memoir is the story of his life after that diagnosis – or as he says “life after the fall”. He fulfills a long-time dream and moves to Ireland, rents a picturesque cottage, adopts his sweet dog Sadie and makes the decision not to let his disease get the better of him.

Trevis has never lost his passion for food. “I will never give this damnable disease credit for teaching me anything. I will, however, say that I have been a good student of what has been there to learn. When my professional aspirations were stripped away, I was left with only my former passion. Passion for food had been HOW I traveled. Passion then became WHY I traveled. Now my passion travels with me, inside of me, even though multiple sclerosis has taken it (and so much else) away from my professional pursuit.”

As far as trends go, fresh ginger is Hot, Hot, Hot! It’s everywhere on menus these days from signature cocktails to entrees to desserts!

And no wonder! Not only is fresh ginger spicy, aromatic, and so tasty, it is incredibly good for you. Ginger has been used for ages as an anti-inflammatory and is a well-known cure for symptoms of motion as well as morning sickness. And next time you have a cold or the flu, try some hot ginger tea. It’s an age-old remedy that helps boost your immune system.

There are a ton of great uses for ginger in drinks. I like steeping it in some simple syrup to add that special zing and spice to drinks. And of course ginger beer is the latest darling in the whole Modern Mule Cocktail Craze – and easy to make, vodka, squeeze of lime, and a great ginger beer, like Rachel’s Ginger Beer – a local fave!

Hands of fresh ginger are easy to peel using a small spoon!

Want to know my ginger peeling trick – it’s like magic! Peeling ginger roots with the side of a spoon – the brown skin rubs right off, and you won’t waste too much of the great flavorful inside. It’s that easy.

And one of my favorite and easy Pacific Northwest-inspired meals is fresh local clams or mussels steamed with lots of ginger, garlic and lemon grass with a dash of hot chili paste and coconut milk. I’ve got a great recipe for you below!

Stay zesty with ginger! -Kathy

A favorite mussel recipe from One of my first cookbooks: Dishing

Steamed Mussels in Gingery Thai Basil Coconut Broth
One of the many basil varieties, Thai basil is often described as having a spicier fragrance than sweet basil. I’ve combined it with ginger, lemongrass, and steamed mussels for a dish that is full of aromatic characteristics and brothy richness.

In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat until hot. Add the ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes, and lemongrass and cook, stirring often, for about 30 seconds; do not let the mixture burn.

Add the coconut milk, fish sauce, soy sauce, Thai basil, lime juice, mussels, carrots, red peppers, and green onions. Bring to a boil, and cover immediately. Steam the mussels, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the mussels just open. Immediately remove from heat. With a slotted spoon, divide the mussels (discard any that are unopened) and vegetables among bowls and pour the broth over them. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve immediately.

Chef’s Tips: If Thai basil is not available, substitute any fresh basil.

Have you heard the buzz about bone broths? It’s the hot new trend revolving around super old-school slow simmered broth made with roasted beef bones. What’s old is new again!

Slow simmering bone broths releases nutrients and minerals. It’s super healthy (packed with proteins, minerals, and healthy fats) and is full of collagen, gelatin, and glucosamine – all essential nutrients for healthy joints.

Bone broth is pretty much like the broth Great Grandma used to make! Just roast large beef bones in a 400 degree oven until roasty-toasty browned. When they’re done, put the bones in a large pot, but don’t forget about all that goodness in the bottom of your roasting pan! Deglaze with water or wine and scrape it all into the pot. You don’t want to wash all that flavor down the sink!

I like to pop in some mushroom stems, carrots, celery and onions. Cover the bones and veggies with water, bring to a simmer then cook till rich and delicious (some simmer theirs for at least 24 hours). Remember flavor takes time so don’t rush it.

Beautiful Photo of Bones ready to be made into Bone Broth from The Kitchn!

Here is a link for the best recipe and instructions for Bone Broth that I found online at The Kitchn and is the way I make it. There are quite a few recipes and techniques all over the internet but this recipe has the higher bone roasting temperature that I prefer. The Kitchn site has lots of tips, a photo tutorial and also recipes on how to use it.

Want something healthy to sip in your next cocktail? Bone broth is even being made into broth-tails! Yup, that’s right – spirit-spiked broth. From LA to NYC, it’s popping up on menus alongside shots of whiskey and tequila. Certainly soon to grace menus here too!

Sleeping late is one of the best weekend luxuries, but I have a few restaurant suggestions that have a brunch worth getting up for!

The Fat Hen’s farmhouse-style menu is becoming more and more famous for their wonderful Scandinavian-style pastries, table-side pressed coffee, and super-filling skillet baked eggs! A NW favorite is the smoked salmon eggs benedict, but really, it’s hard to go wrong at this place!

If you’re looking for something a little less traditional, try Revel. Located in Fremont, this Korean-inspired menu is as surprising as it is delicious! The Kimchi Bloody Mary is out of this world and try it with the Revel Ramen, served with pork belly, kimchi and a soft boiled egg. Anyone feeling peckish yet?

And of course, one of my all-time faves is the Boat Street Café. This amazing brunch institution was started by Renee Erickson (who also owns the amazing the Walrus & the Carpenter and The Whale Wins) – so you’ll know the food will be impeccable.

If you are in Ballard or Kirkland on the weekend, head on over Volterra. Chef Don Curtiss’ menu features signature dishes such as a wild mushroom scramble with Fontina cheese, arugula and white truffle oil or duck and Yukon gold potato hash – yum! And be sure to try the Belissimo Bloody Mary with housemade balsamic mary mix! PS – Ballard Volterra is now open for lunch Monday through Friday now with an amazing 2 course lunch for $16! So if you feel like “brunching” during the week it’s a delicious option.

Treat yourself this weekend and go out to brunch somewhere fun – but be aware, you might have to get up pretty early to miss the crowds at some of Seattle’s favorite spots! –Kathy

And it’s not a party without some deviled eggs – you know how much I love these! The 12th Egg features crispy bacon, local Beecher’s Cheese flagship cheddar, and Dungeness crab meat. Make sure to make plenty – they’ll be flying off the plate in no time.

Looking for something to quench your thirst while cheering (and maybe screaming) for the Hawks? Make my “Legion Of Boom” cocktail. Inspired by our heavy hitting defense, this crowd pleasing cocktail uses fresh mint, silver rum, and fresh grapefruit juice. It’s then topped off with an IPA for another great flavor hit. BOOM!

Celebrate in true 12th Man style with these recipes and GO HAWKS! –Kathy

Halve the eggs lengthwise and transfer the yolks to a mixing bowl. Set the egg white halves on a platter, cover, and refrigerate.

With a fork, mash the yolks to a smooth consistency. Add the mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, if using, garlic, salt, and pepper, and mix until smooth. (You can also do this in a mixing bowl with a whip attachment.) Stir in the cheddar until evenly mixed in.

Spoon the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip, then pipe the mixture evenly into the egg white halves. Or fill the eggs with a spoon, dividing the filling evenly.

To make the topping, in a small bowl, mix the bacon, green onion and crab. Divide topping among the eggs.

Hard-Cooked Eggs
1 dozen large chicken eggs

Place the eggs in a large nonreactive saucepan and add cold water to 1 inch above the eggs. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Turn off the heat and let the eggs sit for 10 minutes. Remove from the stove and run cool water over the eggs in the pan until they are cooled. When cool, carefully peel them under running water.

Have you seen ginormous citrus fruits that look like monster grapefruits? They’re called pummelos – and are the biggest variety of citrus!

If you are a citrus fanatic like me, you will love pummelos. Pick one out that feels heavy for its size and is more green than yellow – in this case, green is good! These big babies pack a wallop of vitamins, and have a wonderful flavor, very similar to a grapefruit, but sweeter and in my opinion a little floral.

The biggest hurdle is getting through the peel, but once you know how, it’s really quite simple. First cut off the top and bottom – just enough so you can see the flesh of the fruit peeking through.

Next, score the peel on four sides. Just deep enough to get through the whole peel. Then, with your fingers, pull the pieces of the peel off and break the sections of the fruit apart. Remove the membrane from the segments, and then you’re ready to enjoy the fruit. I know it sounds like a lot of work, but it is SO WORTH IT!

Great on its own as a snack, or try adding it to a favorite dish. The team and I developed a bunch of new recipes for Sunkist such as Pummelo Tabbouleh! So branch out and try pummelo – its D’Lish!–Kathy

Photo by Kathy Casey Food Studios®

Pummelo Tabbouleh
Pummelo adds a beautiful color and tangy sweet flavor to this classic dish-up salad. Different brands/varieties of cracked wheat cook differently. More rustic types tend to be slower to absorb the water.

Place bulgur wheat and the 1 teaspoon of salt in a heat-proof large glass bowl or plastic container. Measure boiling water carefully and pour over the bulgur. Cover quickly with plastic wrap and let sit for 1 hour or until all the water has been absorbed. Uncover and let cool. (See headnote on cooking varieties of bulgur.)

To finish the salad: Peel the pummelo and tear the citrus flesh of each segment into pieces (discarding the white pith), set aside. (See how to open a pummelo.)

In a large bowl mix together the lemon juice, olive oil, remaining teaspoon of salt and pepper. Add the cooked bulgur and stir to combine. Then add the pummelo, tomatoes, parsley, and green onions and stir gently until coated with dressing.